Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists – The Bullsheet

Sunday, 6 Jan, Mt White, Peats Ridge Somersby "Bellbirds" - Hornsby 125km or Cowan 97km

Ride contacts:
*   Phil Johnston  9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk.
*   Brian Willis     9807.6439 hm

Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

Most are starting at Cowan - take 2nd off-road from Freeway

Let Brian or Phil know if you are commencing from Hornsby

·                 Park in Hornsby station car park [80m N of Railway Hotel - NW of rail line] by 6:35am for 6:45am rollout.

·                 Or pick up the caravan at 7:20am at Cowan station.

Mt White Bikie Hangout [35.5km] is our 1st Nosh Stop 30 min) around 8:05am.

Around 8:35am we roll on to/past the MidCoast Petroleum, Peats Ridge [55km] for 1st Sag Stop (10 min) to re-group.  About 600m after departing the familiar gas station, rather than taking a L to Central Mangrove, we veer R remaining on Peats Ridge Rd and head due E then S/E twds the coast to Somersby, then to Somersby Downs to the pleasant dulcet tones of "pinging", Bellbirds.

After 66km we take the off-ramp [at sign to Somersby/Gosford] and shortly thereafter [10:15am] pull in at Somersby General Store (4372.1269ph) for a 2nd Nosh Stop (20min) - strictly burgers 'n coke territory.

Six clicks further on [74km] we turn R to Gizzaroll and descend to the bridge over Mooney Mooney creek and then commence a steady, delightful climb where, at the Calga Interchange after 85km we L (at "Scenic Road" sign to Brooklyn) and continue 6.5km returning to Mt White Village Store [92km] around 11:30am for 3rd Nosh Stop 25min).

Around 11:55pm we head for Pie in the Sky descending to Brooklyn Bridge over Hawkesbury River and passing Brooklyn Rd [106km] taking our 4th Nosh Stop 25 min) around 12:35pm at Pie in the Sky [108km].

Around 1pm we commence the final 19.2km leg to Hornsby passing Cowan [112km] around 1:10pm, returning to Hornsby [125 km] at 1:45pm. 

Shorter options:

(a)     Continue NE from Somersby to the Shell Garage at Kariong and then turn right for 12km down hill to Woy Woy and catching an all stops Iron Horse at Woy Woy [six stations back to Hornsby] at 1:26pm, 2:26pm and 3:16pm.  Express trains, which take 34 minutes to arrive at Hornsby depart from Woy Woy at 1:02pm, 2:02pm and 3:02pm. 

(b)    If you fade fast twds the end, climb aboard an Old Rattler at Hawkesbury River Station in Brooklyn [109 km from Turra'] at 2:40pm; 3:30pm or at Cowan [112 km] 2:52pm, 3:42pm.

(c)     Turnaround at Mt White for a 72km round trip from Hornsby.

The Scribe's rap-up of Church Point "searing Summer saunter" - 57km

Doesn't the contingent in the below pic seated on the LHS look chic and "so-pisticated" - Welsh Whiz, Widget, Whippet, Caroline and ToothFairy.  Where as you could be excused for thinken' the six fellas on the RHS had been dragged out of Father Flanagan's "Boys Town" and told to behave.  What a hotchpotch of rough Noggins pointing in all directions, especially Bazza on the far end, as he struggled to get in the pic - Richard, Navigator, Bank Teller, Publican, RockSolid 'n Bazza.

This pic at Church Point was 9:20am after 33km.  We'd completed Duffy's Forest, where Whippet almost "met his maker" when a dork in a 4 wheel drive overtook most of us on a slight incline.  Whippet, who had just commenced the return leg after " hanging a Uie" at Cow Corner, found the Toyota coming straight at him on Whippet's side on the road.  The driver made no effort to drop back on his side of the road, rather veered out further onto the dirt road, but thankfully avoided a frightened Brian, who at that instant resembled an anxious Anexoric Greyhound.

 

Around 9am after The Ranger had pleasantly told us the park was closed to cyclists, but seemingly not to motorized guests of Akuna Bay Restaurant, we opted for Church Point, 'cause Bayview Marina didn't open 'til ten bells.  Seated overlooking a glistening blue bay, with hardly a whiff of smoke, "hitherto having gone hill less" we managed to achieve consensus for returning via Powder Works Rd.

 

An hour later after a longish slog from sea level, that final 60m up to the Mona Vale Rd "T" juncture [at Bahai' Temple elevation], was a 16o ball-terror.  Notwithstanding dropping to the lowest gear, getting out of the saddle and simply hanging-on, that last 60m @ 16o blew everyone's gasket.  Well not everyone, you see one of the parties which suggested Powder Works Rd, Widget, took a R about 100m from the top of Powder Works, thereby avoiding that nasty ball-terror.

 

Approaching midday, with Pattisons' Patisserie closed 'til 5 Jan, and St Ives on New Year's morn' looking like a ghost town, and the prevailing westerly breeze as dry as a Dead Dingo's Donger, we jagged soft drinks at the chicken shop and sucked on 'em under the shade of the Coolibah trees at the sub-station adjacent to the car-park.

Not the most stimulating post-ride photo with -

  • RockSolid on far L looking set to mug someone;

  • Navigator pondering whether the late night before was the right prep. for our 57km hit-out on a searing Summer's morn', where Whippet averaged 25km and Welsh Whiz would likely have edged out that a tad, if not disqualified for slip-streaming with his recently acquired bald beacon;

  • The Publican, Whippet, Caroline 'n Richard shooten' the breeze about something funny, or perhaps they were still detoxing from happy gas or rocket fuel imbibed the prior night; 

  • ToothFairy, either practicing standing at attention, or also musing the merits of that late night of revelry; and

  • Bank Teller excusing himself by taking the pic.

 

Absent were Widget, Whiz 'n Bazza who'd earlier cut out twds their homes.  57km twasn't much of a hit-out, but perhaps more than most had put-in that early in 2002. 

 

Following Sunday, 13 January "Yarramalong Manor for lunch thence onto Wyong to catch Iron Horse home:

Hornsby @ 6:45am 93km or Cowan @ 7:20am 64km

The Scribe 'n The Whippet  - 1 Jan 2002